Kison



2 Sheets-Sheet l1.

T. T. HARRSGN.

BICYCLE. Y No. 252,939. Patented Jan. 31,1882.

f ss y 1."

N lll-l m I l la-l u. PETERS. Pnumimgnprwr. wa-hmgzon. n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. T. HARRISON.

BICYCLE. v

No. 252,939. Patented Jan. 3l. 1882.

ATENT FFICE.

THOMAS T. HARRISON, OF BRISTOL, COUNTY OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,939, 4dated January 31, 1882,

Application led November Q5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS TEBBUTT HAR- RISON, ofBristol, in the county ofBrist-ol, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bicycles, which improvements are fully set forth in the follow-ing specification and drawings.

The object of my invention is to dispense entirely with the present steering head, shoulders, guiding cross-bar, and neck. Indeed, according to my invention all parts of a bicycle which at present project above the level ofthe saddle are entirely swept away, so that the. rider is perfectly free to slide oft' the front ot' his machine without coming in contact with any projection or obstacle whatever.

Figure I is a side elevation of a machine. Fig. II is a plan, and Fig. III is a back .elevation.

In carrying out my invention I use a front fork, A, to carry the two-front bearings, very similar in shape to the present forks. The top part of this fork is formed into a hollow casing, a', as shown by section Fig. IV, to receive the pivot-pin b', whichI is formed on or attached under the front end of the backbone B, or the pivot-pin may be a part of the fork and the bearing-recess formed under the backbone. I have shown a ball-bearing around the pivot in the drawing, which may be double or single; but any ordinary bearing will answer the purpose. Thebackboneisformed withastrongend, b2, which may either be integral with or made separate from the pivot-pinb. T he casing a2 is either made integral with or rmly fixed to the fork A. The cone or step a3 is xed tightly by the screw a4 or otherwise at the bottom of the easing a2, and the top cone, b3, is fixed to or made in one with the cap, which is made adjustable by heilig' furnished with a female screw, and is screwed onto the outside ot' the oase a2. Thelatter is bored on its top edge at b4 with little holes to receive the little set pin or screw to secure the cap from turnin g back, thus making the bearing adjustable, so as to tighten it up at any time. Balls c c are interposed between the parts 0.3 and b3, as` shown. The outer cap, d, which is also an alarm-bell,is secured to the backbone by screw d', and covers the whole bearing up from dust. The pivot of the bearingmay be formed on the fork vand the bearing on the end of the backbone. it' necessary, as shown by Fig. XI, where U is the backbone and V the pivot-pin attachediuside the top ofthe fork or formed one with the fork.

For the purpose of steering the machine l provide two handles, e e, which are secured to thefiont fork at any convenient position under thelevel ofthe backbone. These. handles may either bejoined separately on each side ofthe fork, as shown, by rods g, or they may be connected together by a bar,f, as shown by Fig. V, so as to stit't'en each other; butin either case a branch rod or bar passes on cach side behind each leg ot' the rider, and is then carried. forward to any desired distance or to any desired elevation to suit each particular rider. Sometimes I carry a diagonal rod, h, Fig. VI and Fig. V, from each side of the fork up to thesteeringrods to stiften them. In the case ot' racers, for lightnesslform'the fork and steering partwith light rods or tubes,- as shown by the modification T, where the connecting-rods w act as m udguards. The form of steering-handles in passing round the legs may be varied greatly to suit various machines and riders. In this ineditication T, for instance, they are different from the former ones. These steering-rods would of course be so shaped in cross-section as to best resist the strains, and this would vary according to the design of the machine and the position on the fork from which the rods would branch out. These rodsg answer the purpose of a leg-guard also, and may be either hollow' or solid.

The elevation of the handles may be regulated to some extent by the adjusting arrangement shown by Fig. XII, where the junctionferrule 3 screws over the teeth formed in the tubular handle rods w, which are more clearly shown at Y, with the inside stiffening-tube, 4, which is brazed inside, removed. Thus' by screwing back the ferrule 3 the handle may be adjusted into another notch and the ferrule then replaced. The brake handles and levers would generally be arranged to follow the direction of these handles and rods, either inside or outside of them, acting upon'the periphery of the wheel behind-the fork; but I do not confine myself to any particular kind of brakes, as

IOO

many brake devices may be adopted with my headless machines.

When the driving-wheel of the machine is required ofthe maximum diameter I use a backbone of novel shape, (or this backbone may be used for any machinc,) as shown by Fig. VII, in which cases I should use a slotted or forked spring, K, Fig. VIII, which allows it freedom of motion on each side of the projection l, which extendsanyconvenientdistance,ortwo springs may be used, or the spring mayube made with each end solid, and the slot in or near the middle, as shown by L, Fig. VIII. The position ofthe slot. inthe spring will of course be made to suitthe projecting rib l on the backbone. One end of the spring is attached to the forward end of the backbone beneath the dustcap d and the other end tothe backbone by a single or double shackle. As a means ot' bringing the rider still nearer to the backbone I make a saddle-plate, P, of novel shape, as shown by Fig. 1X, side elevation, and Fig. X, plan, in which m is a slot, suitably formed to allow the rib l on the backbone to enter the slot with liberty. There is also formed in the saddle-plate a depression, a, in which I place a pad, of india rubber or other suitable elastic material, which maybe inated by air or a liquid.

For the purpose of making the machine still more'eomplete in its Outfit, I extend the saddle-plate l) to l", beyond the dimensions required for a seat, and form therewith a valise or Satchel.

The bottom part may be made of a supplemental plate, T, it' more convenient, and thel whole is covered with leather,and is mostcomplete in every respect.

The door s may be a plate or leather, and the general design may be varied to a considerable extent as well as its capacity.

I claim as my inventionl. A bicycle having its steering-hamlles attached to the front fork and curved, so as to pass beneath the legs of thc rider, as setforth.

2. In combination with the front fork of' a bicycle, a pair of steering-handles curved to the rear, so as to pass behind and beneath the legs of the rider, and attached to the fork by braces h, as described.

3. In combination with the front fork, having casing a', and a half-seat for the balls c, the backbone provided with a pivot, b', having correspomling half-seat, as set forth.

4. In combination with a bicycle, a slotted saddle-plate, I, having depression n, containing an inflatable bag or cushion, as set forth.

5. In combination with a bicycle, a saddleplate extended backward, as at I, to constitute a valise-cover and cantlc, as set forth.

6. In combination with the front fork, having easing a', the cone a, cap-piece b, balls c, and pivot b', attached to the back-bone, as set forth.

7. In combination with the pivot b and its bearing in the top of thc frontfork, the inclos ing convex bell and cover d, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I ax my sgnature in the presence ot' two witnesses.

THOMAS TEBBUTI HARRISON.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN STEVENS, GEORGE W ALTER STEVENS. 

